Pool supporters renew efforts in Lake City
By Ken Ross
Graphic Advocate Editor
For more than half a century, the Lake City Municipal Pool has served children, teens and adults as a location for healthy recreation and competition.
Having outlived its expected lifespan, Lake City citizens are striving to raise at least $2 million to replace the pool. The pool leaks and there is structural damage to the bathhouse, guard station and concession area.
Kim Kelly, city administrator, said the new pool will be placed in the same location. This will save on excavation cost but the new pool will be slightly longer,
The new pool will be regulation size for swimming competitions, an important factor in making the Lake City Pool a more attractive location for multi-community competitions.
There will also be a zero depth entry and a large shallow splash area.
An additional $400,000 would allow for construction of a water slide and plunge area but this could be added later and is not crucial to the project.
There has been $690,000 raised so far and it is time for a renewed effort to bring in significant contributions, according to members of the Lake City Pool Project Fundraising Steering Committee. “We’ve come a long way but we need a bump,” said Jeanne Devine of the steering committee.
Kelly, who along with Marci Duncan, co-chairs the committee, noted that preliminary work had been done several years ago but the past effort ended before any fundraising began. Kelly said the present effort will continue through completion of the project. “What we’ve invested in is going to happen,” Kelly said.
The city has committed $300,000 to the project from local option sales tax revenues. The county has committed $5,000 in addition to what is expected from county foundation. The foundation funds come through state gambling revenue.
The newest fundraising project is an alumni challenge that recently got under way. The different classes are being challenged to try to outdo each other with contributions. The class with the highest percentage of participation and the class raising the highest dollar amount will each be recognized with a plaque on the donor wall.
The swim team in Lake City is large, about 80 kids, and includes young people from early elementary through high school age. The pool is also the location for swim lessons every year.
Although the recreational, athletic and educational benefits are important, the effects of a pool on a community go beyond the obvious. “We don’t use the pool but we think this needs to be done,” Peggy Scanlon, steering committee member, said. “If we’re going to draw professional people to this community we need to support projects like the new library and a new pool. We have to keep going forward.” Kelly agreed, citing an incident of a medical professional who works in Lake City but had considered owning a home in a nearby town that had a new pool.
Kelly, Scanlon and Devine all had positive comments for the new pool manager hired this year, Kara Schroeder.
They also praised the job done by the swim team coach Anne Reiter. The swim team has represented the fundraising projects in parades and other area events.
Those wanting to help with the project may contact Kim Kelly at 464-3111 - lakecity2003@iowatelecom.net or Marci Duncan at 464-3670 duncanms5@yahoo.com.
Other members of the steering committee include Scanlon, Devine, Christy Hardy, Jim Henkenius, Caryn King, Colleen Petzenhauser, Kevin Poen and Duane Sporleder.
The project has a website where updates are made – www.lakecitypoolproject.com.
